Vehicle-wheel.



` No. 873,841. PATENTED DEG. 17, 1907.

G. E. COLE.

VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLIOATION FILED 13110.26. 1906.

CHARLES E. COLE, or CLEVELAND, Cino.I

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1907.

Application filed December 26.1906. Serial No. 349.423.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. COLE, citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of (hiyahoga and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-l/Vheels,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vehicle wheels and has for its object theprovision of a device of this character constructed in such manner thatany jar or shock incident to traveling over rough roads, will beabsorbed by cushioning elements carried .by the hub of the wheel.

A further object of the invention is the provision of awhecl constructedin the manner above set forth and also constructed in such manner that aminimum of chaling or friction will be imparted to the cushioningmembers of the hub. A

A further object of the invention is the provision of a vehicle wheel,the outer portion of which will be vertically movable with relation tothe hub and shaft by which it is carried, together with cushioninglelements located between said parts and means for securely bracing theparts of the wheel against lateral lnovement-with relation to each otherwhen the vehicle to which the wheel is applied is going around a curveat a high rate of speed. i

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in thedetailed description which now follows.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevationand partly in section of a vehicle wheel constructed in accordance withthe invention7 and, Fig. 2 is a vertical section of said wheel.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in both of the lgures of thedrawing.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates a shaft to whichrotation may be imparted from a motor of any character. Keyed to thisshaft as at 6 is a ring 7 which is preferably made hollow as at 8 tolighten the structure. This ring has an annular channel formed 1n itsouter periphery as at 9, said channel forning a run-way for hollowrubber cushioning ball-S110. 1A second ring 12 having an annular channel13 formed in the inner periphery thereof, surrounds these balls and earsupon them. The rings 7 and 12 are preferably made of metal, although anydesired substance may be used for this purpose. A preferably wooden ring14 surrounds the ring 12 and is adapted to receive the inner ends ofspokes 15, the outer ends of said spokes being secured to the felly 16vof the wheel. This fclly is surroui'ided by a metallic tire 17 which inturn retains in position a cushion rubber tire 1S, the working surface.19 of said tire being preferably l lat to thereby give increasedtractive power to the wheel and to more electually prevent skidding whenthe vehicle is rounding curves. l

Plates 2() and 21 are secured to the ring 12 by screws 22. These platesare provided with aseries of openings 23, said openings being lined withhardened steel bushings 24. Open ings 25 are formed through these platesthrough which the shaft 5 passes, said openings being considerablylarger in diameter than said shaft. Plates 26 are provided upon theirinner faces with studs or lugs 27 which enter the openings23 and bearagainst the steel bushings 24. As is best illustrated. in

Fig. 2, th'e plates 20 and 26 bear against each other at one side of thewheel and the plates 21 and 26- bear against each other at the oppositeside of the wheel. '.lo reduce the friction between these plates, theyare bored out as at 28 and graphite or like solid lubricant is placed inthese recesses.

A portion of the ring 12 indicated at 29, is made separate from the restof the ring and is secured in position by screws 30, by virtue of whichconstruction it is possible to remove this section when it is desired toeither insert or remove the balls 10, thereby greatly facilitating suchoperation.

The operation of the device is as follows: Rotation being imparted tothe shaft 5, a like movement is imparted to the plates 26. The rotationof these plates in turn, im arts rotation to the plates 2() and 21throng 1 the engagement of the studs 27 with the openings 23. Since theplates 20V and 21 are secured to the ring 12, it follows that a likerotation will be imparted to said ring and since the ring 7 is keyed tothe shaft, it follows that rotationwill also be impartedto this ring.v

It will thereforebe'seen that' there -is Heap-Y preciable rotation oftlfefi"ings `l2 and 7 with to bear upon the balls 10, will be due to thevertical movement of the ring 12 with relation to the ring 7 and thisvertical movement will not tend to wear out these balls very fast.Rotation of the ring 12 will of course through the spokes 15, impartmovement to the iellyvl, tire 17 and tire 18.

Since the studs 27 enter openings considerably larger than themselves,it follows that when the wheel passes over an obstruction,y

the ring 12 may move yupwardly for a slight distance with relation tothe ring 7, the

vshock incident to the passage of thewheel over said obstruction beingabsorbed by the balls 10. .Of course a certain amount of this shock willfirst be absorbed by the' rubber cushioning tire 19.

Since the channels 9 and 13 are formed u'pon a greater radius than theradius of the eriphery of the balls l0, sufficient space is eft 1n whichthese balls may expand.

From the foregoing'descriptlon, it will be seen that a wheel constructedin accordance' wlth the present invention, will be one of.

which they are intended, it is, however, t0 be understood that theinvention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, butincludes within its urview such changes as may be made wit in the scopeof the 4appended claims.

plates, openings formed in the plates that are carried by the outerring, and projections carried by the outer plates which extend into saidopenings said openings bemg larger than said rojections.

2. n a vehicle wheel, the combination with a lpair of annular outerplates, of a shaft to which said lates are secured, a ring also securedto'sai shaft, said ring having a concaved outer periphery, a second ringsurrounding the first named ring, said second ring having a concavedinner periphery,hol low rubber cushioning balls located between saidrings, and plates secured to the outer ring which overlap the inner ringand which are entirely covered by the outer plates, openings formed inthe plates that are carried by the outer ring, and projections carriedby the outer plates which extend into said openings, said openings beinglarger than said projections, one of said rings having a removablesection which when removed permits the removal of the balls.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. COLE.

Witnesses:

N. A. MARCHAND, ROBERT WAY, Jr.

